Book 1 - James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing

6. Harry’s Midnight Meeting
James hurried back to the Gryffindor common room after classes, shrugging out of his school robes as
he ran up the steps. He changed into a jacket and an evening cloak, matted his hair down with water from
the basin, frowned critically at himself in the mirror, and then ran back down the steps two at a time to meet
his dad.
Harry was waiting with Neville by the portrait of Sir Cadogan.
“A spirited tussle it was,” Cadogan was saying, leaning nonchalantly against the frame of his painting
and waving his sword illustratively. He was talking to Neville, who looked extremely uncomfortable. “I saw
the whole thing of course. Took place right there. Bollox Humphreys was his name, and he fought like a
man possessed. Lost, of course, but noble as a thousand kings. Spilt most of his innards right where you’re
standing and still swung his sword with more strength than a mountain troll. Gallant man. Gallant!”
“Ah, James, here we are,” Neville said loudly as James approached. Harry and Sir Cadogan looked
up. Harry smiled, looking his son up and down.
“Your mum will be glad to know you’re putting that cloak to use.”
“To be honest, this is the first I’ve had it out of the trunk,” James admitted, grinning sheepishly.
112